Matilda De Angelis Steered Opening Ceremony’s “Harmony” as Milan Cortina Olympics Begin
The , opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics commenced with a vibrant display of music, dance and artistry, with Italian actress and singer Matilda De Angelis at its heart.
De Angelis served as the composer for “Armonia”—Italian for harmony—a piece inspired by the work of sculptor Antonio Canova. During the performance, 70 artists from Milan’s Accademia Teatro alla Scala transformed the San Siro Stadium into a dynamic, living museum. The performers transitioned from static statues to fluid dancers, captivating the audience as De Angelis observed the spectacle unfold.
De Angelis, born on , is a prominent figure in Italian entertainment, gaining international recognition for her role in the 2020 miniseries The Undoing. However, she is a household name in Italy, having first appeared in the 2016 film Italian Race, which earned a nomination for a David di Donatello Award for Best Actress.
Four years later, she won the David di Donatello Award for her performance in The Incredible Story of Rose Island. Her work primarily centers on Italian-language films, with notable roles in the historical drama streaming series The Law According to Lidia Poët (2023) and the upcoming 2025 film Dracula.
Beyond acting, De Angelis has established herself as a musician, releasing her first single, “Seventeen,” in 2016 and a full-length studio album, Back to the Future/Back to the Future, in 2022.
In a 2024 interview with The Official magazine, De Angelis discussed her approach to balancing her acting and music careers. “One day if I want to breathe a different air I could return to music, not necessarily living it as a mainstream project, rather to indulge in the desire to experiment,” she explained. “I’m an actress, I feel like an actress, I want to be an actress and I want to do what I do well.”
De Angelis’s dedication to her craft and her considerate nature have made her a beloved figure in Italy. She emphasized the importance of collaboration and respect on set, stating, “I was raised with the idea of always being very attentive to others. I always try to put myself in a situation of humility even if this obviously does not mean not being aware of one’s own value. I think it’s the right attitude: on set we are all worth the same, if the electrician makes a mistake in putting in a socket you can do the best monologue in the world but if the light is not right you have to do it all over again.”
The opening ceremony itself was unprecedented, taking place across four locations—Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo—and featuring two Olympic cauldrons, a tribute to Leonardo da Vinci’s geometric studies. Mariah Carey performed “Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu” (aka “Volare”) during the ceremony, alongside performances by Andrea Bocelli, Laura Pausini, and Sabrina Impacciatore of “White Lotus” fame.
Despite the expansive nature of the Games, with athletes participating in festivities across multiple locations, the Parade of Nations saw a curious absence at the main hub in Milan’s San Siro stadium. While signs representing the first five countries—Greece, Albania, Andorra, Saudi Arabia, and Argentina—were present, no athletes from those nations were in attendance, as they participated in simultaneous events in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Livigno, and Predazzo.
More than 2,900 athletes from 92 national Olympic committees are competing in the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games. The United States has the largest delegation with over 230 athletes, followed by Canada with 210 and Italy with 196.
